In a Public Notice dated September 21, 2023, the FCC’s Task Force to Prevent Digital Discrimination announced it will host a listening session to gain additional information and understanding from affected communities, state, local, and Tribal governments, public interest advocates, and providers about challenges, barriers and experiences in ensuring all people of the United States benefit from equal access to broadband. The purpose of the listening session is to continue the Commission’s outreach in support of its ongoing efforts to promote equal access to broadband for everyone.
The listening session will take place, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT, at the Medgar Evers College, Academic Complex Building AB1, Edison O. Jackson Auditorium, 1638 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225. The program agenda will include presentations from the Task Force, local leaders, and stakeholders, and will include an opportunity for members of the public to share their broadband access experiences in furtherance of the Commission’s goals to create a framework for addressing digital discrimination. Disability organizations are scheduled to participate; please see agenda on the below event page for more information. The listening session will be recorded and archived on the FCC’s website.
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests for accommodations should be submitted via e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or by calling the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice). Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. In addition, please include a way for the FCC to contact the requester if more information is needed to fill the request. Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.
On December 21, 2022, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking looking to implement provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act pertaining to the prevention and elimination of digital discrimination. The Act establishes various requirements for the prevention and elimination of digital discrimination and tasks the FCC to adopt rules to facilitate equal access to broadband internet access service. The Task Force has hosted a series of listening sessions to help inform the FCC as it develops these new rules.
Event link: https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2023/09/task-force-prevent-digital-discrimination-listening-session-new-york. Additional information about the listening sessions and the Task Force’s work can be found at: https://www.fcc.gov/task-force-prevent-digital-discrimination. To contact or request a meeting with the Task Force to Prevent Digital Discrimination, email PreventDigitalDiscrimination@fcc.gov.